Too stiff shaft, more push/fade?

[drPheta]

I had a golf pro tell me that too stiff of a shaft (for a given swing speed) will actually cause you to either push the ball or fade it more. Is this correct?

I thought if a shaft were too stiff, you'd end up with lower ball flight.

This guy also told me that the MP-57 were only good for 5 handicappers or better.

[James_Black]

I had a golf pro tell me that too stiff of a shaft (for a given swing speed) will actually cause you to either push the ball or fade it more. Is this correct?

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/threads/36964-Shaft-FAQ-s there's some more info if you need it. yes a stiffer shaft will give you a bit of a fade. There's no "set" handicap for different irons but it helps to be a good ball striker for less forgiving clubs. The MP-57's are marketed for better ball strikers who want to work the ball more. What handicap are you?

[drPheta]

Didn't see that. sorry.

I'm new to the game, so no handicap. However, I've hit a bunch of different clubs in the past week or so, and I really like how the MP-52 and 57 feel. I didn't try blades or absolute muscle backs, but compared to the cavities I was using the MP 57 felt stellar. My ball striking isn't 100%, I'm told by the pro that it's pretty solid. Considering I'm new to the game, I thought I could afford to force myself to learn correctly and quickly with a good set of clubs that I won't grow out of.

I've been set on getting MP-57 irons after feeling them out, but now I have my doubts.

[James_Black]

Lets put it this way.

Your learning to drive, which car do you choose?
a F1 racing car with no margin for error? or a regular ford mondeo?

I wouldn't advise you to get them because there isn't much point making this game harder for yourself.
Try the PING G10's or G15's.
If you want better looks try the i10's or i15's

[jpalermo]

You'll be fine, look at it this way, EVERYONE was playing blades when that was all they had. The MP57 are not that big of a deal anyway. Nice clubs, out of my price range but demo'd them and they are not hard to hit at all. You will become a better ball striker.

[c. lassiter]

I was hitting too many hooks with my fairway woods, so I switched from stiff to extra stiff steel shafts and, based on the last two rounds, I think the result has been exactly what I hoped. I haven't lost distance, and I can still hit a high draw, but it is just about impossible to snap hook these.

[Shanks A Million]

You'll be fine, look at it this way, EVERYONE was playing blades when that was all they had. The MP57 are not that big of a deal anyway. Nice clubs, out of my price range but demo'd them and they are not hard to hit at all. You will become a better ball striker.

But the courses and balls were set up for those conditions. The modern course is longer, the balls are much harder, and the greens are faster. A more forgiving iron will nearly always be better for the beginner. It's always the same with a beginner who gets clubs too hard to hit:

Day 1. "Boy, this game is hard." Day 2. "Wow, this is really hard." Day 3. "Geez, will I ever learn this game?" Day 4. "F%&$ these d%

[drPheta]

Thanks all. I've done as much research online as I have done at pro shops and on the range. I get two conflicting words of advice from everyone from you guys to my friends to the pros I speak to and have fit me. Oddly enough one pro told me to stick with forgiving clubs because I will like the sport more and be able to participate in it. The other said to get the clubs that I hit well with, but not something I'd lean on like a crutch... I will learn the game and enjoy it because I learned it without developing bad habits. My friends say to stick with what's easy to hit (I'm assuming because that's what they did). At least everyone agrees and says to get shafts that fit my swing speed and ball flight.

That said, I'm going with what I've been most comfortable with in my limited learning experience. MP-57s, and TM Burners have been hitting straight, and they're supposed to be for "higher handicaps" according to some. I'm not saying I'm any good, but they seem pretty forgiving to me compared to what I've been told. So, MP-57 here I come.

[jpalermo]

Good for you, get what u like.... Its ur money and ur game

[bplewis24]

Good for you, get what u like.... Its ur money and ur game

Word.

Brandon

[drglew]

I don't think game-improvement irons are a "crutch" by any means, even "super"-GI's. You can and will still hit slices, shanks, pulls, chunks, worm-burners, etc with them QUITE easily, and you still will need a decent swing to hit them well (it's not like the beginners playing GI's are single-digit handicappers). However, on a swing that might be a few millimeters off-center you're probably be a bit more satisfied (perhaps with less dispersion and/or more distance) with the result than with a player's iron.

Even as a mid-handicapper, when i switched to a players iron my game suffered, my index increased from ~13 to ~18, and golf became a lot less fun. Switching back has helped a lot, and my index is back to 13-ish.

Golf is supposed to enjoyable, and if you're a relative beginner less-forgiving clubs may prolong the frustration of figuring out this silly game.